First Steps After Home Water Damage

2/11/2020 (Permalink)

Water extraction in a Prospect Heights, IL

Water-related property damage is among the top three causes of homeowner’s insurance filings. If you have experienced water damage in your Prospect Heights, IL, home, you may know it’s not easy to make logical decisions in a crisis. This simple outline may help you chart your course.

The Source 

If the source of the offending water is inside your home, as is the case with broken pipes or leaky appliances, turning off your water main valve should stop the problem. If external water, such as rising floodwater, infiltrated your home, it’s best to prioritize safety and seek higher ground until the water subsides.

Safety Check

Consider taking the following important safety precautions before entering the flooded area:

• Keeping children and animals safely away from the water damage
• Disconnecting your electrical panel
• Ventilating with windows and fans
• Wearing waterproof waders and gloves
• Ventilating generator fumes properly
  

If you’ve checked off that safety list, you are ready to begin or arrange for someone to begin the cleanup. If you were not able to deactivate your electrical, or if your damage was caused by a flood, it is important you seek assistance from an emergency water remediation service. Floodwater can be highly contaminated with sewage, chemicals, and other hazards. It would not be wise to begin the cleanup without a specialist to supervise the process.

Do-it-Yourself Cleanup

If your water damage is fairly minor, less than one inch of standing water, you can begin removing the water with a wet vacuum once you’ve taken the safety precautions. Set up a drying area in the garage or on a patio so you can spread items out to dry. Strong ventilation will help prevent mold growth.

Insurance 

Once safety has been addressed and cleanup has begun, it’s a good idea to notify your insurance provider. Your agent will be able to summarize your coverage and initiate a claim.
A water-damage event in your home can be unsettling. Before you begin the water cleanup, it’s important to stop the source, prioritize safety precautions and hire professional support. Start there, and you and your family will be back to normalcy before you know it.